SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento County Department of Agriculture has received a new shipment of surgical masks to help reduce the spread of coronavirus among agricultural workers and industrial N95 respirator masks for agricultural pesticide applicators.  

N95 masks have been in short supply for use by the agricultural industry since the inception of COVID-19, as these masks are needed by healthcare providers. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has assisted in procuring these masks through the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Many pesticide labels require the use of N95 masks as part of the personal protective equipment needed to apply the chemical. 

In May, the Sacramento County Department of Agriculture distributed thousands of 3-ply, non-surgical masks and cloth masks at county Department of Agriculture offices and the Sacramento County Farm Bureau. The supply was quickly distributed, and the state and the county worked together to get more.

“The California Department of Public Health has mandated the use of face coverings to keep people who may have the virus, and not know it, from transmitting it to others, especially in settings where it is difficult to maintain social distancing,” said Chris Flores, Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner.  “We are thankful that our state partners were able to procure these masks for our essential farmworkers and agricultural businesses”. 

The Sacramento County Department of Agriculture will distribute the majority of the masks through their Galt and Walnut Grove offices. If you are an agricultural producer or processor and are in need of either disposable 3-ply surgical masks or N95 respirator masks for agricultural pesticide applications, please contact the department at the numbers listed below. These masks are free to the agricultural industry. 

(916) 875-6603 – 4137 Branch Center Rd, Sacramento

(209) 745-4109 – 425 Pine St, Galt

(916) 876-1400 – 14177 Market St, Walnut Grove